The Underground Temple of Communism

Overview

The population of Moscow doubled between 1917 and 1930, reaching almost 4 million people. The problem of public transport became particularly acute. The decision to begin construction of the Moscow Metro was made in June 1931 at a plenary session of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks). The first shaft was laid on a test site on Rusakovskaya Street in 1931. The deadlines for the launch of the first phase were fantastic and unrealistic. The only means available was propaganda. The heroism of the workers was romanticized and praised in all the media. Twenty-one percent of the city's annual budget was spent on the construction of the metro. On May 15, 1935, the first train with passengers departed from Sokolniki station. The Moscow Metro began its work.